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“Who or what in the hell are the Thunder Vipers?” Ellis asked, glancing between us.

“A violent gang from Saginaw,” Gabe answered for me. “They’re known for racially motivated attacks as well as attacks on LGBTQ community members, Jews, Muslims, and anyone from a different ethnicity.”

“Which is why they’re after us,” Ellis finished.

Gabe tipped his head in agreement. “They think he’s an albino and you’re African-American. Both of those are demographics that set them off.”

“First of all, he’s not an albino, and second of all, I’m half white!”

Gabriel held up his hand in acknowledgment. “I know, but they don’t know that and they wouldn’t care anyway. You’re black enough for them.”

“And from a distance, I could be easily mistaken for an albino,” Ellis admitted. “If you can’t see my eyes, the hair and light skin would fool you.”

Gabe nodded in agreement. “Which is why they yelled what they yelled. They specifically used albino and the N-word together to prove a point.”

I raised a brow. “The N-word?” I asked and he put his hands up.

“I’m not about to use that word in front of a woman I’ve respected my entire life. You know exactly what I mean, Addie.”

I tipped my head in return. “Appreciated. What now?”

Gabe sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Now we have nothing. The car was ditched and the owner had reported it stolen.”

I waved my hand in the air. “Wait, if the car was stolen, then you don’t know it was the Thunder Vipers.”

Gabe leaned against the table and crossed his ankles. “Yeah, it wasn’t stolen, you and I both know that. That’s just what the gang member said. It’s initiation time and he’s covering his tracks.”

Ellis leaned over my shoulder. “Christmas is initiation time?”

We both rolled our eyes, but Gabe spoke. “This gang holds their initiations at Christmas to fuel their fear factor. Also, if kids are trying to join the gang and can’t hack being away from their parents this time of year, they know they’ll never make it as a member.”

Ellis pursed his lips. “I guess that makes more sense than anything, but what a bunch of disgusting, soulless people.”

Gabe pointed at him and sighed. “My job is definitely glamorous, but I’ll keep doing it. I’m here to warn you not to be out alone together after dark. Don’t have your studio or salon lights on and be visible together behind the windows.”

“You’re saying no PDA,” I translated. “It won’t be a problem,” I finished coldly. Ellis stiffened behind me, but I didn’t take my words back.

“That will make my job easier. Just lay low other than in places where there are a lot of people. The Thunder Vipers never get themselves in a situation they can’t get out of. I’ve also talked to Stan and Loretta about this,” Gabe said, dropping his brow. “They aren’t on the gang’s radar, but that doesn’t mean they won’t find them accidentally.”

“Agreed,” I said, tightly. “Is it safe to be at the park doing Santa and his elves?” I asked, glancing behind me at Ellis who was looking at the ceiling rather than us.

“As long as you’re out of there by dark. We have extra patrols through there during the day and no one knows he’s Santa anyway. As far as anyone knows, you’re just doing your part to help the Chamber with the holiday activities.”

Ellis finally tore his eyes from the ceiling. “We’re always done at two. I won’t take my costume off until we are back here.”

Gabe grabbed the door handle and paused. “I’m sorry it has to be this way right now. I’m sure you’d like to be out without worrying about someone coming after you, but until we catch them, this is the only way to keep you safe.” He pointed back and forth between us. “If anything happens here or at the studio, do nothing but call us. Do not engage. Do not go investigate the sound of breaking glass. Call us before you breathe, got it?”

We both nodded solemnly and he slipped out the door. I followed him down, locked the vestibule door behind him, then jogged back up the stairs and locked that one, too. Ellis was sitting on the couch, his head in his hand as he worked to wake up. He rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand and I felt bad for him, so I went to the kitchen for coffee.

“Can’t have coffee,” he said before I could pour it. “Caffeine gets my heart pumping more than kissing you does.”

I slammed the pot back into the machine and took a deep breath. “Good to know.”

“Not what I meant, Addie.”

I leaned my hip on the counter and drank from my own, it’s not greeeaaatttt mug. Nothing is great. Everything sucks. My life is suddenly not what I thought it was. I set the cup down and ducked my head, waiting for that Christmas magic to work its way into my heart, but it was a no go. I’d lost the magic, or at the very least it was hiding somewhere I couldn’t access. A tear dripped onto my sock and I bit my lip to keep from making a sound. I strode to the door, getting it unlocked and closed again before he could get off the couch. I took the stairs two at a time and skidded into the salon, slamming the door of my private bathroom where my clothes were waiting. Instead, I sat on the toilet seat and let the tears fall. Tears for the sad state of our country where skin tone and religious beliefs were more important than who we were as a person. Tears for the broken heart I had. Tears for a relationship that died before it began. I rubbed my chest and realized after four years of being with Ethan, I never shed a tear when we broke up. I was far too angry and embarrassed. Tears never crossed my mind. Definitely not the case with Ellis.

I went to the sink and washed my face, forcing the tears back even if my lip was trembling. I brushed my hair, forcing anger into my actions so it would overpower the heartbreak. I threw some green leggings and a tank top on, knowing the elf tunic would be heavy and Sherpa lined. I flipped a flannel shirt over the tank top and sighed, my head hung and my hand on the doorknob. I had to be a grownup and talk to him, but right this minute, I wasn’t feeling strong enough for that. It didn’t help that I was tired and dreading the next five hours of my life. Hard to be a merry elf when your life is in shambles.